Demand for pancakes sent Kiwanis Club members scurrying back to EVCO Wholesale Foods for more supplies Saturday before the crowd had cleared away from the club’s annual Pancake Day at the Lyon County Fairgrounds.
“We had a great day,” said Pat Lyon, who, as president-elect, was in charge of the annual event. “The turnout far exceeded our expectations. We had to run back and get some more supplies.”
Lyon said that a long line extending out the door of the Anderson Building started around 8 a.m. and continued, almost without ceasing, until about 11 a.m. Organizers said good weather, coupled with an investment in signs to advertise, helped contribute to the success of the event.
“It sure was the largest crowd we’ve had for a long time,” Lyon said. “We’ve never had a crowd that stayed out the door for as many hours as they did Saturday.”
The numbers of diners forced the club to contact the EVCO salesman and ask him to come in on a Saturday.
“They were gracious enough to go open up and make sure we had supplies,” Lyon said. “It was a wonderful problem to have.”
Club members went to the fairgrounds to prepare for the crowd about 5 a.m. Saturday, and stayed until they had served between 10,500 and 11,000 pancakes during the six-hour operation, which began at 7 a.m. and lasted until 1 p.m.
“We’re probably going to net somewhere around $11,000, or somewhere in that ballpark, when it’s all said and done,” Lyon estimated.
The money will go entirely to the Kiwanians’ service account.
“This has nothing to do with the operations of the club itself,” he said. “... It’s all spent on the youth and the youth organizations in the community.”
The club sponsors an assortment of projects for youths, such as the QUEST program in the local school district, Camp Alexander, Camp Wood, recreation-league baseball teams, the police child-safety-restraint program, and other projects that help young people.
Lyon said that approximately 30 members — many accompanied by spouses who helped — were assisted by Boy Scout Troop 165 and its leaders, Key Club at Emporia High School,and parents of Scouts.
For several years, the Scout troop has helped club members set up and tear down the tables, chairs and griddles and serve the customers.
Scouts also held drawings for several items that were donated to help raise money for Scout camping scholarships.
Merchandise donated for the raffle included: a pedal tractor from PrairieLane Partners, a quilt from the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church quilters’ group, a decorative garden bench from Judy Turner of Farm & Home Real Estate and a power drill from Sutherland’s.
“It’s totally separate from our funds,” Lyon said of the Scout activity. “They get to keep the monies they make on that.”
Free4all (anonymous) says...
This was a GREAT time for our whole family. This was my first year attending and was suprised by the turnout.Good job to everyone involved.
March 17, 2009 at 1:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )